Souls That Burn - Pero Tovar (The Great Wall)

-Seven-

The entire forces of the Wall were plunged into sudden mourning. The Tao Tei had led them into a trap, costing General Shao his life. His final command was that the title of General fall on Commander Lin.

A funeral ceremony was held on the top of the Wall the following night. All to pay respects to their fallen leader.

Lin was clearly heartbroken by the General's death, but determined to fulfill her new role.

Following the ceremony they met in Strategist Wang's study, along with a young man who had apparently come from the palace in the Capital.

"This is envoy Shen from the palace," Strategist Wang introduced. "He has brought important records to help with the coming battle.

"A nine-hundred year old battle report," Ballard translated for the Europeans as envoy Shen began to explain in their language. "At the Hansha gates, three beasts mounted the Wall. They killed many men as they went forward. Then, by the grace of the ancient gods, the beasts stopped and sat peacefully as we slaughtered them." Then Strategist Wang began to speak, holding up William's magnet, and Ballard continued his translations. "At the Hansha Gate, there was a magnet just like this one. I believe this magnet was the reason you Europeans killed the Tao Tei so easily. I believe the magnet makes the Tao Tei deaf. Without instruction, they fall still." Lin, now General Lin, spoke. "How can we be sure?" Ballard translated.

"Why not try it?" William spoke up, suggesting. "Capture a Tao Tei. See if it works."

"You say it like it would be easy," said Constanza.

"Yes, how?" General Lin asked him. "No net is strong enough."

"Hunt them, like a whale. Hundred times the size of a Tao Tei. A spear that grabs. Hook the bone, pull them up. I've seen it done in Spain."

Strategist Wang translated this for the others, and, in agreement, the meeting ended.

"What the hell are you doing?" Pero demanded in a hiss, grabbing William's arm and stopping him before he could enter the barracks. "We need to be free when the attack comes."

"So you're really going forward with Ballard's plan?" asked Constanza.

"Yes, and how many chances do you think we will get?" Pero cried. "Be injured, be missing, be a coward," he implored his partner. "Get out of this. We did enough." With that, he stormed into the barracks, being sure to bump William's shoulder on the way by.

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Her friends were divided, stood divided. William bound by his sudden loyalty to the Wall's forces, and Pero hell-bent on getting out of here.

She'd never seen them like this. Yes they had had many disagreements in the past, but nothing like this that she had witnessed.

"Are you going to ask what I want to do?" she prompted.

"What do you want to do?" Pero asked.

"Thank you. I think we should finish helping them. We're entangled in this now too."

"We never even officially started helping them. It's all just been William." 

"Well I don't think we want them as our enemy. Running away will certainly make them that."

"I don't care if I am their enemy, I just want to get out of here. But I'm not leaving without William. Even if I have to drag him out of here myself."

She didn't doubt it.  

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William went over the Wall.